A/N: Weeee. I'm so excited. My copy editor just gave my back my Ofic novel. It should be out soon. Sorry. Had to share. Onto Edward and Bella. Let's see if Charlie is actually going to shoot him.

Of all the ways Bella had imagined seeing her father again, this was not one of them. She was confused, thinking Edward yanked away from her. When she looked up and saw her father, she was startled and excited. She almost dragged him down off his horse for a hug until she finally processed the full extent of what was happening.

Her father was pointing a rifle at Edward's chest.

"Dad," she cried and stepped between them without a second thought.

The result was instantaneous. Edward gave a startled shout and pushed her behind him. Charlie pointed his gun down at the ground. Not to be dissuaded, he dismounted his horse, getting right in Edward's face and forcing him to take a step backward. "You get away from my daughter."

"Dad," Bella tried. "Edward." She was irritated at the way Edward kept himself in front of her, as though her father would ever try to hurt her. Actually, she was most irritated at the way neither one of them was paying her a lick of attention, preferring instead to glare at each other.

"Sir, let me explain," Edward said.

"Explain nothing. You get away from her, and I might consider listening to whatever you have to say." Charlie took a step forward. Though he held his rifle at his side, he still looked menacing.

Edward moved to step away from her, but Bella stubbornly held his hand, stepping with him. She lifted her chin though her heart pounded and she wanted to cower. She'd made up her mind weeks ago that she wouldn't be ashamed of her marriage. "Dad, stop. He's my husband, and he can be as near to me as he pleases."

Despite the clamor of the settlers moving around them, the people, livestock, and wagons, the world seemed too quiet as her father gaped at her. By that time, Carlisle and the others had caught up with them. When Carlisle called his name, Charlie swung around to turn his glare at the other man.

"Well, looks like we're stopping a mite early for the day," James said dryly. "I'll tell the others to circle the wagons and they get to cover Edward's chores too. I reckon he's going to be busy."

~0~

"This is ridiculous." Bella stormed a few paces away from the fire where she and the other women were readying dinner.

She should have been excited. When the first of the wagon train arrived near his home, Charlie had headed out in search of the Cullens and Bella. He'd ridden several days by himself with supplies so he could walk the last five or so days with Bella. Their bellies would be full-a fact that had Jasper, Emmett, and the little boys hovering with eager looks on their faces. Bella should have been in high spirits along with the rest of them.

Instead, she began to pace furiously, looking in the direction her father, husband, and Carlisle had disappeared. "I should be with them."

Esme stood and went to her, wrapping her in the protective embrace of her arms. "Try not to worry, sweetheart. Everything will be fine. Your father is just angry at having his choice taken away from him."

Bella cast her foster mother an incredulous look. "Yes. Everyone keeps telling me that. He's angry at having his choice taken away? Ha. Well, he's in good company. It's not his life being argued about; it's mine, and this is the second time I have not been privy to that discussion."

"It's your father's job to make a good match for you."

"Edward is a good match for me."

"And he'll see that."

"What if he doesn't? He doesn't know Edward like I do. None of you do." She shrunk in on herself and allowed Esme to hold her tighter. "Esme, what if he doesn't approve? Can he do anything?"

Before she could answer, Bella heard her father call her name. She turned to find the three men returning, Charlie several paces ahead of Edward and Carlisle. Bella tried to get a read on Edward's face-he didn't look happy but he was no worse for the wear-but her father had taken her by the hand and started leading her away.

Defensive, Bella yanked her hand away. "What's going on?" She tried again to turn toward her husband, but her father took her by the arm.

"I want to talk to you. Alone."

Bella's heart began to pound, and her stomach twisted. Her father had always been such an even tempered man, but he was furious now. His hold on her was not bruising, but it wasn't gentle either. She had always been an obedient daughter, and as uncertain and confused as she was, this didn't seem to be the best time to start being defiant. At least not until she heard what he had to say.

He deserved that much, she thought. After all, there was nothing he could do. She had been married before a priest. It was done. Charlie would have to live with the choices that had been made without either of their consent.

She let him lead her away. Once they were out of sight he seemed to lose a little of his fury. He blew out a long breath of air and sat on a boulder not looking at her. Bella, unsure of what to do or say, clasped her hands in front of her and waited.

When she thought she might scream if he didn't say something soon, he finally spoke. "Bella… you need to know there are options."

The dread that had twisted in her stomach turned to ice. She took a steadying breath. "Options?"

"You don't need to stay with him."

"Dad-"

"I know you're nineteen, and you may think that's grown up enough. God knows you were always more grown up than you seem, but that still doesn't make it right for a man to do what he done. And I understand why Carlisle thought he did what's best for you, but he doesn't know the things I know. You have options here. Things are different. A lot of young men, good men with good prospects, have made their way out west. Not enough women have." He swallowed hard and finally looked up at her. "Even with someone else's baby, you wouldn't have trouble finding a good husband."

Bella's throat was tight with fear and fury. "I have a good husband."

"A good man doesn't do what he did."

"He didn't do anything. Least not what you think."

"Don't you understand? I want you to have a choice."

"You mean you want me to have your choice."

Charlie tilted his head, looking at her hard. "I mean what I say, Bella. I'd never want to make that choice for you. I'm sorry Carlisle did. Plenty of fathers might think I'm crazy, but I think you should have a say in who you marry no matter if you've done something foolish or not."

"And I mean what I say. I choose Edward. He's my choice. He's my husband, and I have no wish for another. And he is a good man. Dad." She clung to his arm, pleading. "You knew him. You travelled with him for many months. How can you say he's not a good man?"

"Easily if he would seduce a young girl."

"He didn't." Bella gave a small growl, too frustrated to be embarrassed at her father's words. "I know they don't believe us, but he only ever kissed me. It wasn't proper, but it wasn't insidiousness on his part either. No one believes us. No one believes me but it's true. Emmett misunderstood, and everything happened so quickly after that. I thought I hated Carlisle for not believing me, for forcing us into this, but…" She shook her father's arm, close to tears and terrified he could somehow force her and Edward apart just as swiftly as they'd been forced together. "I love him. I love Edward. Don't make me give him up. Please. Please, because I won't. I won't."

"Bella." Charlie's tone was roughened but quieter than before. "Hush." He put his hand to her cheek. "Hush now." He pulled her to him and for the first time in over four years, Bella found herself wrapped in her father's embrace.

She trembled in his arms. She had known her world was going to change with this journey, and she had spent these last months scared of what she could lose out here on the trail. It almost seemed like asking too much that she should have everything she wanted: the vast majority of her family safe and Edward beside her.

"Please believe me. He's a good man," she whispered.

Her father held her at arm's length, studying her a moment. "I believe you."

Bella blinked at this, not quite believing her ears. "You do?"

"Yes. And you were right. I remember Edward well from our crossing together. He's a very bright man. He saved my life more than once."

"He saved my life too. And he's promised to give this up as his trade. He has land of his own already."

"Yes, he did tell me that." He cupped her cheek once more in a tender gesture. "He's been good to you? Truthfully, Bella. Tell me."

"He is very good to me. He's kind, and he worried about me probably more than you do."

Charlie huffed. "I sincerely doubt that," he said, but he smiled and took a step away from her. "Bella let me look at you."

Bella ducked her head, shy now that her moment of panic had passed. Charlie looked her over and clucked his tongue. "I didn't think it was you at first, when I saw you," he said. "I hardly recognized you. You are grown up, Bella."

"Dad." Now her voice waivered for a much different reason. She flung herself into his arms again, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and holding on. She cried freely then-a girl who'd missed her father terribly-and he hugged her back with just as much urgency.

"I missed you, Bells. I missed you so much."

~0~

Though he didn't doubt Bella's devotion to him for a second, Edward couldn't hide his relief when she came around the corner smiling. She ran from her father's side into his arms, ignoring the displeased look on Charlie's face. Edward didn't try to disentangle her. He closed his eyes and hugged her tighter. Let her father see for himself his feelings and intentions for his daughter were true and deep.

Charlie didn't say a word to Edward.

For two days.

He frequently shouldered his way between Edward and Bella, leading his horse so he could talk to his daughter. Edward said nothing at the disrespectful slight. If his father-in-law's cold shoulder was the most retribution he could expect, Edward would consider himself lucky.

For her part, Bella showed no signs of shame. Quite the opposite, she was proud and demonstrative toward him as always. Charlie made no effort to dissuade her when she held his hand or kissed him chastely. At the end of the day, when she went to sleep by Edward's side, Charlie made no protest. He still didn't look pleased, but he wasn't objecting.

It was nooning time on the third day when Charlie made his move. There was a stream nearby and the fish were biting. When Edward took his leave to fish, Charlie went with him. He didn't ask; he simply followed. Edward made no comment about it though he thought to himself he was glad he hadn't decided to hunt. He remembered quite well that Charlie was an excellent shot.

Still, he supposed if his father-in-law intended on doing him in, he could always claim he'd drowned.

Edward was startled out of these only half-amused thoughts when Charlie cleared his throats.

"So," Charlie said as though he hadn't spent the last two and a half days trying to pretend Edward didn't exist. "What are your plans then?"

This was a conversation Edward had expected and rehearsed weeks ago. He told Charlie about his plans for his home and the compromise he'd reached with Bella.

"I'll understand, of course, if you don't want me in your home," Edward said, keeping his tone even. "I'll figure something out that will allow me to see Bella through the winter as I promised."

Charlie scoffed. "Oh, come off it. You know as well as I do if I didn't let you in, she'd only follow you."

"She's missed you. I know she wants time with you."

Charlie hummed in acknowledgment, looking out over the water. "Well, I have a proposition for you."

Edward looked to his father-in-law, shocked.

"Here's what I want. Don't stay just the winter, stay the season. I could use another pair of hands, and it would do you some good to see how it's done before you try to take it out of the hands of the man who's done it for you for these years. That'll give him some time to settle his affairs, I'd imagine. I get my daughter for a year and you get the experience you need so you and my daughter and whatever grandkids you might get on her won't end up starving in a few years time. Might be a blow to your pride, but-"

"It's no blow. Well." Edward grimaced. "You're right. This isn't how I would have wanted things to be. However, I'm secure in the knowledge I am capable of standing on my own two feet. I can provide for her, for us, now." He let a smile tug at the corner of his lips. "And this arrangement would please Bella, I think."

He offered Charlie his hand. After a moment's hesitation, Charlie took it. "I have a great deal of respect for you and your daughter, though I know I didn't act like it. Thank you for giving me the chance to prove I can be a good husband."

Charlie nodded as he shook. "I can't say I'm happy about it. I remember talking to you about my girl. I can't say that feels comfortable."

Edward shook his head fervently. "It was never my intention-"

"I realize that. My daughter's word is good enough for me." He tilted his head, looking Edward right in the eyes. "And I'm not blind. I've seen the two of you together. You treat her right and provide for your family, you have my support and my blessing."

"That means a lot to me, sir, of course." Edward coughed into his hand, hoping he wasn't overstepping his boundaries. "I think it would mean the world to Bella to hear it."

Charlie chuckled. "I think you're right about that. Anyway, I have some news to tell her."

It was when they stopped for the day that Charlie sat down next to Bella and repeated what he'd said to Edward. A look of such delight came over her face, and she threw her arms around her father gleefully. "Thank you, Dad."

He patted her back looking simultaneously awkward and pleased. "Well, it'd be somewhat hypocritical not to," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "All things being equal, I suppose I'd like to ask for your support and blessing too."

Bella blinked at him, perplexed. "For?"

"Well… You remember that neighbor of mine, don't you? I wrote to you of her. She's got a boy who helps me."

"Sue, you said."

"Yeah. Well, seems we may have gotten a little ahead of ourselves, and the long and short of it is, I have a new wife, and you're going to be a big sister." He said the last part in such a rush, Edward was certain he must have misheard. But no. Charlie was as red as Bella ever got as everyone gathered around sputtered.

"I… Dad, that's… Oh," Bella said.

He chuckled and gave her a wan smile. "Yes. The little guy certainly snuck up on us. He'll be here in time for Christmas, or so the doc reckons. I know it's a surprise."

"A good one," she said.

"Yeah?"

Bella clasped her father's shoulder before leaning into Edward's embrace. "It looks to be a full house then for a time?"

"For a time," Charlie agreed.

~0~

Two days later, the party stopped in front of Charlie's home.

They'd made it.

Their journey had taken just shy of six months, and none of them were the same as they had been before they'd set out. Among them was a new widow, a new mother, two newlyweds, and a brand new person. They were missing one patriarch and many of the things they might have thought a necessity only half a year before. Their clothes were dirty rags, their hair and beards bedraggled, and they all looked like they needed to be scrubbed for a week straight in a tub.

They'd made it.

As they came up to the house-a home simpler in style than they'd come from but much larger in scale-Bella could see a pretty, raven-haired woman, her belly quite obviously swollen, and a long-haired boy who looked to be a tall, broad fourteen on the porch. When they saw the party, the boy-Bella's step-brother Seth, she expected-took his mother's arm to help her down the steps and toward the weary travellers.

The sky was threatening rain. They barely got the animals sorted and themselves inside before the storm hit. Then they all, the whole party, stood on the covered porch or at the windows, staring out at the land with huge eyes.

They were all dry, and when they were inside, they were warm despite the weather.

Bella looked up as Edward stepped to her side. He took her hand and brought it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to her knuckles and smiling at her broadly.

They'd made it.

A/N: Many thanks to jessypt and barburella.

How are we doing folks? We're going to have a roof over our heads. I'm toying with the idea of making more than one chapter after this. We'll see what the kids decide to whisper at me.